When Are The Airbags Deployed?; If The Airbags Have Been Deployed; When Are The Airbags Not Deployed?; Seat Belts - The Heart Of The Volvo Safety System - Volvo XC90 2004 Owner's Manual

2004 VOLVO XC90
WARNING!
If the SRS warning light stays on after the engine has started or if it comes on while you are driving,
drive the vehicle to the nearest authorized Volvo retailer for inspection as soon as possible.
pg. 7 Safety

When are the airbags deployed?

The information on this page pertains to SRS (front) airbags only. For information about Side Impact
Protection System (SIPS) airbags, please see
page 12.
The SRS system is designed to deploy during certain frontal or front-angular collisions, impacts, or
decelerations, depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and object impacted. The SRS sensor is
designed to react to both the impact of the collision and the inertial forces generated by it and to
determine if the intensity of the collision is sufficient for the seat belt pretensioners or airbags to be
deployed.
If the airbags have been deployed, we recommend the following:
Have the vehicle towed to an authorized Volvo retailer. Never drive with the airbags deployed.
Have an authorized Volvo retailer replace the SRS system components.
Use only new, Genuine Volvo Parts when replacing SRS components (airbags, seat belts,
pretensioners, etc.).

When are the airbags NOT deployed?

Not all frontal collisions activate the SRS system. If the collision involves a nonrigid object (e.g., a snow
drift or bush), or a rigid, fixed object at a low speed, the SRS system will not necessarily deploy. Front
airbags do not normally deploy in a side impact collision, in a collision from the rear or in a rollover
situation. The amount of damage to the bodywork does not reliably indicate if the airbags should have
deployed or not.

Seat belts - the heart of the Volvo safety system

The heart of the Volvo safety system is the three-point seat belt (a Volvo invention)! In order for the
SRS system to provide the protection intended, seat belts must be worn at all times by everyone in the
vehicle. The SRS system is a supplement to the seat belts.
WARNING!
Never drive with the airbags deployed. The fact that they hang out can impair the steering of your
vehicle. Other safety systems can also be damaged. The smoke and dust formed when the airbags are
deployed can cause skin and eye irritation in the event of prolonged exposure.
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2004/2004_XC90/04xc90_01a.htm (9 of 12)12/30/2006 4:35:11 PM
page 10. For Inflatable Curtain (IC) airbags, please see